Segmental washer



Sept. 19, 1944. R. B. suMMERs l 2,358,606

SEGMENTAL WASHER Filed Oct.- 5. 1942 Efgl INVNTO Obummer's provide la semental washer wherein Patented Sept. 19, 1944 i assasoc snor-remar. wasnna Robert B. Summers, Stockton, Calif. A application october s, 1942, serial No. 460,736

This invention relates in general to an im-v proved metallic washer, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, a unique form -of segmental washer of the type adapted for use on ybolts or the like,v where it is advantageous to apply the washer to the bolt without fully unthreading the nut therefrom. and which may not be vfeasible, due to stripped threads. rust, etc. This type of washer is especially useful in connection with the maintenance of boit-connected structures such as railroad bridges or trestles, wherein the nuts frequently cannot be fully unthreaded and lack of thread on the bolt does not permit the 4 nut to be tightened unless a washer is interelevationA of Fig. 2, showing the segmental washer in use.

, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the segmental washer with the segments separated in a radial posed between 'such nut and the adjacentstructure. The segmental washer as hereinafter described can be applied to the bolt merely by backingthenutpartwayoitsoastoexposeaportion of the shank of the bolt and then applying the washer` segments thereabout; the segments matching and cooperatively engaging to formI a complete washer.

vAnother object of vthe instant invention.- is to `matching segments are formed with unique, cooperating surfaces to assure proper iit and frictional engagement of the segments, and to maintain said segments against separation radially of the bolt when the washer is in use in surrounding relation thereto.

An additional object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a segmental washer wherein the segments are designed for matching cooperating engagement; the engaged surfaces of the segments including a plurality of taper portions in unique assembly. x

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device, andv yet one which will be exceedingly eil'ective for the purpo for-which it is designed.

, These objects-I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully. appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate correspondingpartsin the several views: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one seg.

Amentin place about a bolt, and the other lsegment, partly-in section, being moved intoplaee about the bolt.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation ofthe segmental washersurronnding aboli; andclampedinplace between the vn'ut and the adjacent structure.

Figiue3isanendelevationtaken90fromthe direction.

Refen'ing now more particularly -to the characters of reference on the drawing, my improved segmental washer comprises a pair of identical segments indicated at I, generally U'shaped in plan, normally disposed in face-to-face matching relation to form a complete circular washer.

The throats 2 of the segments are tapered and open to the peripheries thereof in opposite directions, and the inner ends of said throats are semi-circular as at l, whereby when the segments are matchingly engaged said throats adjacent their inner ends deilne a circular opening for the bolt.

- Each segment between the inner end 3 of the throat and the corresponding portion of the periphery of said segment is formed with asegmental axially projecting boss I; the bosses, when the segments are matchingly engaged, projecting into the outer and open endo! the throat of the other segment. As the bosses 4 project axially from the segments a distance the average thick- ,j ness thereof, said bosses at their outer ends are ilushwith the flat outer faces of the segments when the same are4 engaged, and complete the circle of each segment; the radially outer Iside of the bosses being curved and on the same radius as the segments, Y

In order to assure that the segments remain in proper matching relation when in use, and especially againstseparation radially of. the bolt, I employ the following arrangement:

'I'he sidewalls I of the throat of each segment,

from the curved inner end 3 to the periphery of the segment, extend radially of the washer in slightly diverglng relation, while the opposite sidewalls I ofthe bosses matchingly diverge. In addition, the sidewalls i of thebosses also converge somewhat axially of the washer and toward the outer end of said and the radially divergent sidewalls i of the throats of the segments are also divergent axially of the washer to match the axial convergence -of sidewalls I of said bosses. 4'I'hese sidewalls l are formed in combination with the radial divergence and 'axial dlvergence thereof.' with a certain amount of cmcavity 'I whichassures proper frictional magement and matingof the sidewalls l At their outer ends the legs l of ending-d are formed with axial projectionsor rllx l 'la extend. when-the is are in matclilngngagement, toward the other segment and seat in symmetrically-formed grooves I at the base and on opposite sides of the boss I of said other segment. The projections are each generally V- shaped in cross section and taper inwardly from the periphery of said segments, feathering out short of the corresponding boss. The inner faces of the projections I are in eect axial continuations of the sidewalls l andare iiat therewith. As the projections 3 seat in grooves i0 when the segments are matchingly engaged, there cannot be any radial separation of the segments unless axial separation rst occurs.

On opposite sides the washer is formed with prying slots Il for reception of a tool to axially separate the segments when necessary. In use, the above described segmental washer is employed in the following manner:

'I'he nut I2 on the bolt i3 is unthreaded to back it away some distance from the adjacent structure I4. Y Thereafter the segments of the washer, while V vin axially separated relation,` are engaged with 'the bolt from opposite sides and then the segments are brought together axiallyinto frictional engagement, which locks the same against radial -separation. Thereafter the nut l2 is run down against the washer and tightened.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially -fullls the. objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A segmental washer comprising a pair of like segments, generally llggshaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and being disposed in face-to-face matching engagement, a boss formed integral with and projecting axially from and beyond the face.l of each segment in closing relation into the open end of the other segment, the outer end of each *boss being tlush vwith the outer .face of the other segment, and

means releasable only upon axial separation of the segments frictionally securing the same against radial separation.

2. A segmental washer comprising a pair oi like segments, generally IJ-shaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and being disposed in face-to-iace matching engagement, a segmental boss projecting axially from and beyond the face of each segment opposite the open end of the latter and in the direction of the other segment. said bosses projecting into the outer and l open -end of the-throat ofsaid other segments, the sidewalls of the throat of each segment extending in outwardly diverging relation radially of the washer, opposite sidewalls of the bosses matchingly diverging and being frictionallyensased by said sidewalls ci thethroat, and means r'eleasable only upon axial separation of the segments frictionally securing the same against radial separation. e n

`3. A segmental washer as inclaim 2 in which saidlopposite sidewalls ofthe bosses are convergent axially ofthe washer toward the outer bosses,- and said radially divergent sidewallso! the throats of the segments are likewise divergent axially of the washer to match saidl beyond the face of each segment opposite its, open end and in the direction of the other segment, said bosses projecting int-o the outer and open end of the throat of said other segment, and means releasable only upon axial separation of the segments frictionally securing the same against radial separation.

5. A segmental washer comprising a pair of like segments, generally U-shaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and being disposed in face-to-face matching engagement, a segmental boss projecting axially from and beyond the face of each segment opposite its open end and rin the direction of the other segment, said bosses projecting into the outer and open end of the throat of said other segment, and axial projections on each segment on oppositesides of and adjacent the open end of its throat, said projections extending toward the other segment, said other segment having symmetrically formed grooves at the base andon opposite sides of the corresponding boss, said projections seating in matching relation in said grooves.

6. A segmental washer comprising a pair of like segments, generally U-shaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and being disposed in face-to-i'ace matching engagement,` a segmental boss projecting axially fromeach segment opposite its open end and in the direction-of the other segment, said bosses projecting into the outer and open end of the throat l of said other segment, and axial projections on each segment on opposite sides'of and adjacent,

the open end of its throat, said projections extending toward the other segment, said other -segment having symmetrically formed grooves at the bas and on opposite si'des of the corresponding boss; said projections seating in matching relation in said grooves. being generally V-shaped in cross section, taperingv inwardly from the periphery of the segments lengthwise of the corresponding throat, and feathering out short of the corresponding boss.

'1. A segmental washer as in claim 6 in which adjacent'faces of the projections are continuations of the sidewalls of the corresponding throat and are ilat therewith.

8. A segmental washer comprising a pair of like segments generally U-shaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and be- -ing disposed in face-to-face matching vengageand beyond the-face of each segment opposite its open end and in the direction of the other segment, said bosses projecting into the outer and open end of the throat of said other segment, the sidewalls of the throat of each segment'frictionally engaging adjacent their outer ends with opposite sidewalls of the adjacent boss, said'opposite sidewalls of the adjacent boss b'eing concave, and means releasable only upon axial separation of the segments frictionally securing. the same against radial separation.

9. A segmental washer comprising a pair of' like segments generally U-shaped in plan, said `segments opening in opposite directions and being disposed in face-'to-face matching encasement, a segmental boss projecting axially i'ron adjacent boss diverging radially of the washer toward its periphery and converging axially of the washer toward the outer end of said boss, and means releasable only upon axial separation of the segments virictionally securing the same against radial separation.

10. A segmental washer comprising a pair oi like segments generally `Ufshaped in plan, said segments opening in opposite directions and 'being disposed in face-to-face matching engagement, 'a segmental boss projecting axially from each segment opposite 'its open end and in the direction of the other segment, said bosses projecting into the outer and open end o! the throat oi said other segment, the sidewalls ofthe throat of eachy segment frictionally engaging adjacent their outer ends with opposite sidewalls of the adjacent boss, the engaged portions of said sidewalls of the throat and opposite sidewalls of the adjacent boss diverging radially of the washer `toward its periphery and converging axially of the washer toward the outer end of said boss,

vand means releasable only upon axial separation of the segments irictionally securing-the same against radial separation; said means comprising axial projections on each segment extending along opposite sides of and adjacent the` open end oi' its throat, said projections being V-shaped in cross section and protruding toward theother segment, said other segment having symmetrically formed v-shaped grooves atthe base and on opposite sides of the corresponding boss, said projections seating in matching relation in said grooves. 4 t' l ROBERT B. SUMMERS. 

